KC Pant: An old school politician

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Last Updated: Thu, Nov 15, 2012 19:05 hrs

Known for his erudition and persuasive manners, Krishna Chandra Pant belonged to the old school of politicians whose administrative acumen earned him plum responsibilities in Union Government and prominent role in Parliament.

Son of a freedom fighter and former UP Chief Minister and Union Home Minister Govind Ballabh Pant, K C Pant was known for his negotiating skills that late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi chose him as the chief negotiator to work out a deal with the protagonists of the separate Telangana movement in the 1970s.

As Minister of State for Home Affairs, he was successful in evolving an agreement that led to 'Mulki Rules' that gave prominence to recruitment of locals in jobs in the region in Andhra Pradesh government service.

Pant, who died in his Delhi residence this morning, was also made the interlocutor by the then Prime Minister A B Vajpayee for Kashmir during the NDA government.

Born in 1931 in Nainital, Pant was a post graduate in science and joined Congress to enter politics.

Pant first got elected to Lok Sabha in 1962 and was reelected in 1967, 1971 and 1989. Between 1978 and 1984, he was elected to Rajya Sabha and was the Leader of the House during 1979-1980 when Charan Singh became Prime Minister.

During his political career spanning over 40 years, Pant had held the portfolios of Finance, Defence, Steel and Heavy Engineering, Irrigation and Power and Energy.

After his long association with Congress, he switched to BJP in 1998 when it emerged as a ruling party and Vajpayee made him Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission in 2000. His wife Ila contested on a BJP ticket from Nainital in 1998 and won the poll.